Sailors suffer first loss

Sarasota High lost its first game of the season Wednesday afternoon, 5-2 in extra innings to Florida Christian in the Sarasota Baseball Classic, a lack of execution on offense the cause.

“They executed, we didn’t,” senior catcher Brandon Chapman said.

Simple as that.

Florida Christian (13-4) scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to break open a 2-2 tie, two RBI coming on a single to center field by Chris Gandara.

The Sailors (13-1) had nine hits, seven against Florida Christian starter Alex Valverde, but stranded 11 runners in the game. They scored in the fourth and sixth innings on RBI singles by Skylar Frey and Tyler Leonard, but twice could not get runners on third base home.

“I think we left seven on base heading into the fourth inning,” Sarasota coach Clyde Metcalf said. “When you play good ballclubs you’re not going to be successful doing that.”

Florida Christian made it to the Class 3A state semifinals last year, losing to eventual champion Melbourne Central Catholic 1-0.

The Sailors got two hits apiece from Leonard and Matt Schlabach. The run in the fourth was scored by catcher Brandon Chapman, who led off the inning with a single to center field.

Chapman had a solid game defensively, throwing out three runners trying to steal bases.

“He definitely takes the running game away from other teams,” Metcalf said.

Schlabach scored in the sixth inning to tie the game. He led off with a single and, two batters later, Mason Dancer singled to left field to move him over. With two out, Leonard battled Valverde through a long at-bat, his single to left field driving in Schlabach.

Jordan Gubelman pitched 42/3 innings for Sarasota, giving up two runs, one earned, and four hits. He also struck out four and walked two batters.

Florida Christian scored on him in the fourth inning. The Patriots made bigger moves in the eighth inning, though, against the Sailors’ Drew Beyer.

Ruben Someillan led off with a single to left, Jack Diaz was walked and Erik Montero singled to load the bases with no outs for Florida Christian.

Two batters later, Gandara ripped the ball to right field, scoring two runners. Michael Rodriguez bunted in another run on a squeeze play.

Beyer pitched 22/3 innings, giving up three hits and three runs. He walked two and struck out two.

Despite the loss coming early in the season, Sarasota, ranked nationally after its 4-2 victory over Venice last Friday, was quite displeased with the outcome.

“I’m not real big on losing,” Metcalf said. “There’s really no good time for a loss. But you certainly don’t want to lose at the end of the year.”

Added Chapman: “Every loss you’re going to take it pretty hard. We just have to come back and compete.”

Which is exactly what the Sailors did later on Wednesday night.

In the nightcap at Ron Drews Field, Sarasota (14-1) got back on the winning track with a 5-1 victory over Viera.

Tyler Leonard had a triple and two RBI for the Sailors while pitchers Shelby Banks, Cody Brickhouse and Nick Long combined to limit Viera to just six hits and one run.

Solange Reyner

Solange Reyner is the assistant sports editor at the Sarasota Herald Tribune. She can be reached at (941) 361-4861.

Last modified: March 26, 2014
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